‘I absolutely had to rest after that!’ Your most intense TV episodes ever
Spooks – I Spy Apocalypse (2003)
The episode begins with the MI5 agents restricted during a training exercise about a potential terror incident, monitored by two government representatives. As the situation develops, it seems an actual attack has occurred with a chemical weapon released. The anxiety increases as incoming communications show a disaster happening externally, and intensifies as the boss appears to be infected, with the two officials trying to exit, pushing the protagonist portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen to opt for either shooting them or letting them go and risking contaminating the sealed MI5 offices. This being Spooks, the outcome is expected.
Threads from 1984
The production was inexpensive yet among the scariest shows I have viewed owing to its grim authenticity and grim official statistics. Watched it about a month ago having watched the original; I used to visit the pub in Sheffield shown in the series which emphasised the reality and the casual, straightforward government details that aired. Continuing to be utterly horrifying after three and a half decades.
Severance – The We We Are (2022)
The season one finale of Severance deserves a top spot among intense episodes. I spent the entire episode literally perched nervously, exerting with Dylan to maintain his grip on the controls that sustained the Innies’ extended time, while yelling at the Innies to get their truths out there. The final climactic moment – “she is living!” – resembled a outburst.
Industry – White Mischief (2024)
Installment five in Industry’s third series made my pulse quicken. I had to pause and get up and exit the space repeatedly owing to the vast degree of the deliberate ruin I observed. Rishi Ramdani faces serious trouble at work and home – up to his eyeballs in debt to illegal creditors due to his addictive betting, engaging in dangerous ventures with a gamble on the pound which may result in huge losses for his employer. Inevitably, he starts a gaming binge, does tons of drugs and drink and alternates between success and failure, is severely assaulted. Whenever you assume things cannot decline more, it worsens. There’s hope of redemption as the installment closes but he misses the opening, resulting in dreadful effects in the concluding part of the season. Absolutely had to relax following that!
The 2007 Peep Show episode Holiday
The series Peep Show isn’t typically anxiety-inducing. But the episode Holiday features such degrees of awkwardness that it can cause you to stand the whole episode, riddled with anxiety. It all ramps up once Jeremy and Mark find themselves needing to deceive regarding the dog they unintentionally hit and subsequent attempts to dispose of it. You then occupy the remainder of the episode wondering if it might be more awful than cremation, and it is possible!
The West Wing – The Two Cathedrals (2001)
Nothing I have seen has been as tense than the first time I watched the season two finale to The West Wing. The episode starts with the aftermath of the demise (in a car crash) of the president’s private assistant and builds to a peak involving a Haitian emergency, and the fallout from the non-disclosure regarding the president’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, with confirmation of his intention to seek re-election. Excellent TV. Unsurpassed.
Bodyguard – episode one from 2018
The beginning of the UK show Bodyguard, with the protagonist on a train accompanied by his small son, ranks among the most gripping episodes I’ve seen. He spots a Muslim woman heading to the toilet and senses something is wrong. The bomb squad is alerted, board the train, and attempt to convince the woman to discard her bomb jacket. Tension escalates to an almost unbearable degree, until, indeed, the vest is disarmed.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Body from 2001
Buffy comes into her home to discover her mother has died due to natural factors, which is the most unusual type of death in this paranormal series. The installment lacks any soundtrack, a somber mood, and we view the installment through the lens of Buffy’s astonishment upon finding her mother.
The Sopranos – Made in America (2007)
The final scene of the final episode of the show was pants-wettingly tense. And if you watched it when it originally aired, you – initially – were uncertain of the reason. Tony’s enemies, real and imagined, were all vanquished. Surely this has the feel of the season one ending? “Recall the minor details.” Yet the atmosphere is strangely foreboding. Nearly Twin Peaks-like fear. The family gathers in a diner. Meadow finds a parking spot. Tony gloomily informs Carmela problems are brewing with another member of his team cooperating with the officials. Meadow secures a parking space. Strange people enter the restaurant. Stare at Tony(?) Meadow parks. Tony selects a song on the jukebox. Meadow parks. The door chimes, a person comes in. It cannot be Meadow, she is still parking. Tony glances upward. Continue. It ceases. My spirit fell around 20 minutes subsequently.
The Walking Dead – The Last Day on Earth (2016)
I remained awake to view this installment during the night. It was extremely gripping after the buildup of bad guy Negan finding the group, savagely teasing his prey then not knowing who he killed (concluded with a suspenseful moment). The victim’s POV shot and the muffled sounds – oh no! {We then had to wait for season seven|We then needed to await season
